That is what the Grocery clearsnce center is all about says, founder and president, Gary M. Gluckman, remembering his first days at the store's original South Tyler Street location. "I was a young, single, long-haired immigrant from South Africa, eager to live 'the American Dream'. I opened the store with nothing but a big idea, a half dozen used shelves, one home-style freezer, and maybe $5000 in inventory", Gluckman recalls. "In '93, most people had never heard of a salvage grocery store. I literally gave away food to prove its quality to many skeptical walk-ins."
Steadily, word of the deep discounts to be found in this brightly-painted little store spread, and Dallas Food Depot developed a large and fiercely loyal customer base.
"Over the years, I've watched toddlers prepare for their high school graduation, and witnessed rowdy teenagers mature into loving parents. Many of those first wary customers are now treasured, long-time friends. We've grown older and wiser together", smiles Gluckman, who is now a proud American citizen, husband, and father.
In 2006, having outgrown the leased Tyler Street building, Gluckman moved the store to his newly-purchased KiestHill Plaza property at the corner of West Kiest Boulevard and South Cockrell Hill Road. "With our tripled retail space, we could add a wide selection of organic and natural foods to our line of conventional groceries, meats, and health and beauty aids", reports Sharon Gilbert, store director.
The Grocery Clearance Center, as the store was renamed, has since welcomed hundreds of new bargain shoppers while continuing to embrace its veteran customers and maintain its small-town, corner store atmosphere.
